After Game 1 of Tuesday’s doubleheader, Detroit Tigers outfielder Robbie Grossman officially completed 401 consecutive games without an error, the longest streak by a position player in MLB history.
Grossman passed outfielder Nick Markakis, who played 15 seasons for the Baltimore Orioles (2006-14) and Atlanta Braves (2015-20). Markakis’s streak covered 400 games from 2012-15.
“I know it’s been going on for a pretty good time,” Grossman said. “I just don’t think about. I try not to say anything about it. But I guess it’s pretty cool. I’ll just continue to do what I do and be who I am and see what happens.”
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Since Grossman didn’t commit an error in Game 2, the 10-year MLB veteran entered Wednesday with 402 consecutive error-free games. He hasn’t made an error since June 13, 2018, as a member of the Minnesota Twins.
“I come to the park every day trying to get a little bit better,” Grossman said. “I stay true to myself. I’m happy about it, but I don’t want to talk about it.”
The most recent error from Grossman occurred at Comerica Park.
Playing right field for the Twins, Grossman was charged with a throwing error on Leonys Martín’s single in the eighth inning of a Tigers 5-2 win. His mistake allowed Victor Reyes to score for the Tigers’ fourth and final run of the inning.
Since then, Grossman’s defense is perfect by the standards of official scorers.
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The 32-year-old has 21 errors over his career: 14 in left field, six in right and one in center. Most of his playing time is accounted for in left (450 starts), but he also boasts experience in right (201 starts) and center (30 starts).
“He practices. Like, he practices it every day,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “His routine before the game is rock-solid. He holds himself to a high bar. He’s very prepared. He’s probably the most manic about being in the right position at the right time. He’s just dialed in to every detail.
“Everything matters to Robbie. When you hear that, you’re not surprised because he prepares. I love that about him. I always have. The recognition he’ll get for a streak like that is well deserved.”
Drew Hutchison DFA’d
Right-handed reliever Drew Hutchison was designated for assignment after Tuesday’s doubleheader, making room for left-hander Joey Wentz on the 26-man roster ahead of his MLB debut.
The Tigers also returned righty Alex Faedo to Triple-A Toledo after he served as the 27th player for the doubleheader.
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Hutchison, 31, posted a 4.60 ERA with 12 walks and 15 strikeouts in 15⅔ innings over 10 relief appearances. If he clears waivers, the seven-year MLB veteran could choose to stay in the organization and report to Toledo.
“We hope he stays in the organization,” Hinch said. “We feel like he can help us. We have this looming date at the end of the month. We’ve got to go from 14 (pitchers) and 12 (position players) to 13 and 13. It’s going to be more difficult to carry as much pitching as we have this month.
“But I could easily see a scenario where Drew comes back and helps us in a variety of roles.”
The Tigers have 38 players on the 40-man roster.
More than staying afloat
Right-handed reliever Will Vest has shined out of the Tigers’ bullpen this season, posting a 1.32 ERA with three walks and 16 strikeouts in 13⅔ innings over 10 games. He struck out three straight batters in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s Game 2.
Vest, 26, is in his second MLB season.
“When the roster went down from 28 to 26 (players), at the beginning of the season, it would have been very easy to see Will on that line. He wasn’t,” Hinch said. “Now we make a move to bring up Joey Wentz, and he wasn’t even under consideration. He’s earned that because performance matters at this level.”
The Seattle Mariners selected Vest in the 2020 Rule 5 draft. Following a 6.17 ERA in 35 innings for the Mariners in 2021, the club removed him from the active roster, thus sending him back to the Tigers.
In 2022, Vest has a 66.2% strike rate.
“He’s fearless,” Hinch said.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.